Tomato variety picus

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of the tomato variety designated Picus. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato variety Picus and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety Picus with itself or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing, and also relates to parts of a plant of tomato variety Picus including the fruit and gametes of such plants. The invention also relates to tomato variety FDS 14-2081, and to seeds and plants produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety FDS 14-2081 with itself or another tomato plant. The present invention is also directed to tomato variety FDS 14-2090, and to seeds and plants produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety FDS 14-2090 with itself or another tomato plant.

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/991,538, filed Nov. 30, 2007, the entire disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of tomato varieties Picus, FDS 14-2081and FDS 14-2090.

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include greateryield, resistance to diseases, insects or other pests, tolerance to heatand drought, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value,enhanced growth rate and improved fruit properties.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same genotype. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from aflower of a different genotype.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for a uniform typeover many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci andproduce a uniform population of true breeding progeny of homozygousplants. A cross between two such homozygous plants of differentvarieties produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that areheterozygous for many gene loci. The extent of heterozygosity in thehybrid is a function of the genetic distance between the parents.Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of lociproduces a segregating population of hybrid plants that differgenetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makesperformance unpredictable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a tomato plant of thevariety designated Picus, or of tomato variety FDS 14-2081 or FDS14-2090. Also provided are tomato plants having all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of such plants. Parts of the tomatoplant of the present invention are also provided, for example, includingpollen, an ovule, a fruit, a scion, a rootstock and a cell of the plant.

The invention also concerns seed of tomato variety Picus, tomato varietyFDS 14-2081 and tomato variety FDS 14-2090. The tomato seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population oftomato seed. Therefore, seed of the invention may be defined as formingat least about 97% of the total seed, including at least about 98%, 99%or more of the seed. The population of tomato seed may be particularlydefined as being essentially free from hybrid seed. The seed populationmay be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous populationof tomato plants according to the invention.

In another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a plant of variety Picus or tomato variety FDS 14-2081 or FDS14-2090 is provided. The tissue culture will preferably be capable ofregenerating plants capable of expressing all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of a plant of the invention, and ofregenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as other suchplants. Examples of some such physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics include those traits set forth in the tables herein. Theregenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example,from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots,root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks. Still further, the presentinvention provides tomato plants regenerated from a tissue culture ofthe invention, the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of a plant of the invention.

In yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing tomato seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent tomato plant with a second parenttomato plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent tomatoplants is a plant of the of the variety designated Picus, or of tomatovariety FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090. These processes may be furtherexemplified as processes for preparing hybrid tomato seed or plants,wherein a first tomato plant is crossed with a second tomato plant of adifferent, distinct variety to provide a hybrid that has, as one of itsparents, the tomato plant variety FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090. In oneembodiment of the invention, tomato varieties FDS 14-2081 and FDS14-2090 are crossed to produce hybrid seed of the variety designatedPicus. In any cross herein, either parent may be the male or femaleparent. In these processes, crossing will result in the production ofseed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether the seed iscollected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent tomato plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent tomato plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the male portions of flowers, (e.g., treating ormanipulating the flowers to produce an emasculated parent tomato plant).Self-incompatibility systems may also be used in some hybrid crops forthe same purpose. Self-incompatible plants still shed viable pollen andcan pollinate plants of other varieties but are incapable of pollinatingthemselves or other plants of the same variety.

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent tomato plants. In certain embodiments,pollen may be transferred manually or by the use of insect vectors. Yetanother step comprises harvesting the seeds from at least one of theparent tomato plants. The harvested seed can be grown to produce atomato plant or hybrid tomato plant.

The present invention also provides the tomato seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent tomato plant with asecond parent tomato plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent tomato plants is a plant provided herein, such as from varietyPicus, tomato variety FDS 14-2081 and tomato variety FDS 14-2090. Inanother embodiment of the invention, tomato seed and plants produced bythe process are first filial generation (F₁) hybrid tomato seed andplants produced by crossing a plant in accordance with the inventionwith another, distinct plant. The present invention further contemplatesplant parts of such an F₁ hybrid tomato plant, and methods of usethereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the inventionprovide an F₁ hybrid tomato plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant or a seed derived from one or more of variety Picus,tomato variety FDS 14-2081 and tomato variety FDS 14-2090, methodcomprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from saidvariety by crossing a plant of variety Picus, tomato variety FDS 14-2081or tomato variety FDS 14-2090, with a second plant; and (b) selfing theprogeny plant or crossing it to the second plant or to a third plant toproduce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation.

The method may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and selfing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation orcrossing it to the second, the third, or a further plant; and repeatingthe steps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a further plantderived from the aforementioned starting variety. The further plantderived from variety Picus, variety FDS 14-2081 or variety FDS 14-2090may be an inbred variety, and the aforementioned repeated crossing stepsmay be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbredvariety. In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plantsresulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b)and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of thestarting plant as well as potentially other selected traits.

The invention also concerns methods of vegetatively propagating a plantof the invention. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the stepsof: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant ofthe invention; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferatedshoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rootedplantlets. In some of these embodiments, the method further comprisesgrowing plants from said rooted plantlets.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of variety Picus, varietyFDS 14-2081 or variety FDS 14-2090 comprising an added heritable traitis provided. The heritable trait may comprise a genetic locus that is,for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In one embodiment of theinvention, a plant of the invention is defined as comprising a singlelocus conversion. For example, one or more heritable traits may beintrogressed at any particular locus using a different allele thatconfers the new trait or traits of interest. In specific embodiments ofthe invention, the single locus conversion confers one or more traitssuch as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, diseaseresistance and modulation of plant metabolism and metabolite profiles.In further embodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturallyoccurring gene introduced into the genome of the variety bybackcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgene introducedthrough genetic transformation techniques into the plant or a progenitorof any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

For example, in certain embodiments, the invention provides methods ofintroducing a desired trait into a plant of the invention comprising:(a) crossing a plant of variety Picus, variety FDS 14-2081 or varietyFDS 14-2090 with a second tomato plant that comprises a desired trait toproduce F1 progeny, (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises thedesired trait, (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant ofvariety Picus, variety FDS 14-2081 or variety FDS 14-2090 to producebackcross progeny, and (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising thedesired trait and the physiological and morphological characteristic ofvariety Picus, variety FDS 14-2081 or variety FDS 14-2090. The inventionalso provides tomato plants produced by these methods.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofa tomato plant variety of the invention. The phrase “genetic complement”is used to refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, theexpression of which defines the phenotype of, in the present case, atomato plant of, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complementthus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and ahybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up of a hybridcell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides tomato plant cellsthat have a genetic complement in accordance with the tomato plant cellsdisclosed herein, and plants, seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., gene expressionprofiles, gene product expression profiles and isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that a plant of the invention or a first generationprogeny thereof could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by tomato plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a tomato plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second tomato plant, preferably, another, distincttomato plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a tomatoplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a plant of an inbredtomato variety that exhibits a combination of traits comprising a broadadaptability from Florida to Wisconsin, production of an excellent setof uniformly shaped fruit, and resistance to Alternaria alternata f sp.lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f sp. lycopersici race 1, Stemphyliumsolani, Verticillium albo-atrum race 1, and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Incertain embodiments, the combination of traits may be defined ascontrolled by genetic means for the expression of the combination oftraits found in tomato variety Picus.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of the invention comprisingdetecting in the genome of the plant at least a first polymorphism. Themethod may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality ofpolymorphisms in the genome of the plant. The method may furthercomprise storing the results of the step of detecting the plurality ofpolymorphisms on a computer readable medium. The invention furtherprovides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing tomatoes comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of the invention,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collectingtomatoes from the plant.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of error for the device or method being employed to determinethe value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean“and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only orthe alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosuresupports a definition that refers to only alternatives and to “and/or.”When used in conjunction with the word “comprising” or other openlanguage in the claims, the words “a” and “an” denote “one or more,”unless specifically noted. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include”are open-ended linking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more ofthese verbs, such as “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,”“includes” and “including,” are also open-ended. For example, any methodthat “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limitedto possessing only those one or more steps and also covers otherunlisted steps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or“includes” one or more traits is not limited to possessing only thoseone or more traits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,plant parts, seeds and derivatives of tomato variety Picus, as well asparent plants capable of being crossed to produce this variety,designated variety FDS 14-2081 and variety FDS 14-2090. Picus is an Flhybrid Saladette tomato. These plants show genetic uniformity andstability and horticultural uniformity and stability within the limitsof environmental influence for the traits described hereinafter. Theplants provide sufficient seed yield. By crossing with a distinct secondplant, uniform FI hybrid progeny can be obtained.

Variety Picus exhibits a number of improved traits including its broadadaptability from Florida to Wisconsin and its production of anexcellent set of uniformly shaped fruit. In addition, the Picus varietyis resistant to Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici, Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lycopersici races 1 and 2, Stemphylium solani,Verticillium albo-atrum race 1, and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. Thedevelopment of the variety can be summarized as follows. The parents ofPicus are particularly useful for the production of hybrid varietiesbased on the beneficial traits conferred in hybrid combination.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Tomato Variety Picus

The tomato variety Picus was made by crossing FDS 14-2081 with FDS14-2090. In one embodiment, Picus is produced by a cross between FDS14-2081 as the seed parent and FDS 14-2090 as the pollen parent. Thebreeding objective was to develop an indeterminate elongated cherrytomato inbred variety with good taste, uniform size and good combiningability to be used in the development of hybrid cultivars for the grapetomato category. The variety was deemed stable and uniform after 7generations of selfing and selection.

The breeding objective of FDS 14-2090 was the development of the varietywith a determinate elongated cherry tomato with good taste, uniform sizeand good combining ability to be used in the development of hybridcultivars for the grape tomato category. As is true with other tomatovarieties, a small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants were observed during thetwo years in which the variety was observed to be uniform and stable.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Tomato VarietyPicus

Tomato cultivars may be grouped by maturity, i.e. the time required fromplanting the seed to the stage where fruit harvest can occur. Standardmaturity classifications include ‘early’, ‘midseason’ or‘late-maturing’. Another classification for tomatoes is thedevelopmental timing of fruit set. ‘Determinant’ plants grow foliage,then transition into a reproductive phase of flower setting, pollinationand fruit development. Consequently, determinant cultivars have a largeproportion of the fruit ripen within a short time frame. Growers thatharvest only once in a season favor determinant type cultivars. Incontrast, ‘indeterminate’ types grow foliage, then enter a long phasewhere flower and fruit development proceed along with new foliar growth.Growers that harvest the same plants multiple times favor indeterminatetype cultivars. In response to more recent consumer demands for dietarydiversity, tomato breeders have developed a wider range of colors. Inaddition to expanding the range of red colored fruits, there arecultivars that produce fruits that are creamy white, lime green, yellow,green, golden, orange and purple. Additionally, there are multi-coloredvarieties exemplified by mainly red fruited varieties with greenshoulders, and both striped- and variegated-colored fruit. Standardmethods for determining tomato fruit color are described, for instance,in Gull et al. (1989) and Kader et al. (1978), both of which areincorporated by reference herein.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of tomato variety Picus. A description of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of tomato variety Picusis presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of TomatoVariety Picus CHARACTERISTIC Picus Seedling: anthocyanin in hypocotyl of2-15 cm Present seedling (Montfavet H 63.4) Seedling: habit of 3-4 weekold seedling Normal Mature plant: height 85 cm Mature plant: growth typeDeterminate (Campbell 1327, Prisca) Only determinate growth typevarieties: Few Plant: number of inflorescences on main stem (Campbell1327) (side shoots to be removed) Mature plant: form Normal Matureplant: size of canopy (compared to Medium others of similar type) Matureplant: habit Semi-erect Stem: anthocyanin coloration of upper thirdAbsent or very weak Stem: branching Intermediate (Westover) Stem:branching at cotyledon or first leafy Present node Stem: number of nodesbetween first 7 to 10 inflorescence Stem: number of nodes between early(1st to 1 to 4 2nd, 2nd to 3rd) inflorescences Stem: number of nodesbetween later 1 to 4 developing inflorescences Stem: pubescence onyounger stems Sparsely hairy (scattered long hairs) Leaf: type Tomato(mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: morphology 2 (matureleaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: margins of major leafletsShallowly toothed or scalloped (mature leaf beneath the 3rdinflorescence) Leaf: marginal rolling or wiltiness Slight (mature leafbeneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: onset of leaflet rolling Lateseason (mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: surface ofmajor leaflets Smooth (mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf:pubescence Normal (mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf:attitude Semi-drooping (Montfavet H 63.5) (in middle third of plant)Leaf: length 37.0 cm Leaf: width 27.0 cm Leaf: division of blade Pinnate(Mikado, Pilot, Red Jacket) Leaf: size of leaflets Medium (in middle ofleaf) (Marmande VR, Royesta) Leaf: intensity of green color Medium(Lucy) Leaf: glossiness Medium (as for 6) (Marmande VR) Leaf: blisteringMedium (as for 6) (Marmande VR) Leaf: size of blisters (as for 6) Leaf:attitude of petiole of leaflet in relation Semi-drooping to main axis(Montfavet H 63.5) (as for 6) Inflorescence: type Mainly miltiparous(2nd and 3rd truss) (Marmande VR) Inflorescence: type Forked (2 majoraxes) (make observations on the 3rd inflorescence) Inflorescence:average number of flowers in 6 inflorescence (make observations on the3rd inflorescence) Inflorescence: leafy or “running” occasionalinflorescence (make observations on the 3rd inflorescence) Flower: calyxNormal (lobes awl shaped) Flower: calyx-lobes Shorter than corollaFlower: corolla color Yellow Flower: style pubescence sparce Flower:anthers All fused into tube Flower: fasciation Absent (1st flower of 2ndor 3rd inflorescence) (Monalbo, Moneymaker) Flower: color Yellow(Marmande VR) Fruit: typical shape in longitudinal section 7 (3rd fruitof 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: shape of transverse/cross section 1 (3rdfruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: shape of stem end Indented (3rdfruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: shape of blossom end Pointed/tapered(Europeel, Heinz 1706, (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Hypeel 244,Roma VF) Fruit: size of blossom scar Very small (Cerise, Early Mech,Eruopeel, Heinz 1706, Peto Gro, Rio Grande) Fruit: shape of pistil scar2 (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: peduncle: abscission layerPresent (pedicellate) (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) (Montfavet H63.5, Roma) Only for varieties with abscission layers: Averaged 1.5 cmPeduncle: length (from abscission layer to calyx) Fruit: ribbing atpeduncle end Weak (Early Mech, Hypeel 244, Melody, Peto Gro, Rio Grande)Fruit: depression at peduncle end Medium (Carmello, Count, Fandango,Santi- Pierre) Fruit: size of stem/peduncle scar Small (Early Mech, PetoGro, Rio Grande, Roma) Fruit: point of detachment of fruit at harvest Atpedicel joint (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: length of dedicel15 mm (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: length of mature fruit788 mm (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fill in the length of maturefruit Check Variety # (stem axis) FLORIDA 7655 753 mm Fruit: diameter offruit 513 mm (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fill in the diameter offruit at widest point Check Variety # FLORIDA 7655 484 mm Fruit: weightof mature fruit 108 grams (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fill in theweight of mature fruit Check Variety # FLORIDA 7655 94.5 grams Fruit:size Medium (Alphamech, Diego) Fruit: ratio length/diameter Small(Alicia) 1.54 Fruit: core Present Fruit: size of core in cross sectionSmall (in relation to total diameter) (Early Mech, Europeel, Heinz 1706,Peto Gro, Rio Grande, Rossol) Fruit: number of locules 2 or 3(Alphamech, Futuria) Fruit: surface Smooth Fruit: base color Light green(Lanai, VF 145-F5) (mature-green stage) Fruit: pattern Uniform green(mature-green stage) Fruit: green shoulder Absent (before maturity)(Felicia, Rio Grande, Trust) Fruit: intensity of green color of fruitMedium (Rody) (as for 34) Fruit: color at maturity Red (full-ripe)(Ferline, Daniela, Montfavet H 63.5) Fruit: color of flesh at maturityRed/crimson (full-ripe) (Ferline, Saint-Pierre) Fruit: flesh colorUniform Fruit: locular gel color of table-ripe fruit Red Fruit: firmnessFirm (Femova, Konsul, Tradiro) Fruit: shelf life Medium (Durinta) Timeof flowering Medium (Montfavet H 63.5, Prisca) Time of maturity Medium(Montfavet H 63.5) Fruit: ripening Uniform Fruiting season Long(Marglobe) Relative maturity in areas tested Medium late Adaptation:culture Field Adaptation: principle use(s): 2, 1 (if more than onecategory applies, list all in 1 = home garden rank order) 2 = freshmarket Adaptation: regions to which adaptation has 3, 4, 2, 12 beendemonstrated 2 = Mid Atlantic (if more than one category applies, listall in 3 = Southeast rank order) 4 = Florida 12 = Other (specify):Midwest *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment.Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention.

Variety Picus has been self-pollinated and planted for a number ofgenerations to produce the homozygosity and phenotypic stability to makethis variety useful in commercial seed production. No variant traitshave been observed or are expected for this variety.

Tomato variety Picus, being substantially homozygous, can be reproducedby planting seeds of the variety, growing the resulting tomato plantunder self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions and harvesting theresulting seeds using techniques familiar to one of skill in the art.

As described above, variety Picus exhibits desirable agronomic traits,including its broad adaptability from Florida to Wisconsin, and itsproduction of an excellent set of uniformly shaped fruit. In addition,the Picus variety is resistant to Alternaria alternata f.sp.lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici races 1 and 2,Stemphylium solani, Verticillium albo-atrum race 1, and Tomato SpottedWilt Virus. As shown above, variety Picus exhibits superiorcharacteristics when compared to competing varieties. For example,Picus, which is a fresh market saladette tomato hybrid similar in fruitshape to the Sunoma, has resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus whereasSunoma lacks this resistance.

C. Development of Tomato Variety FDS 14-2081

The breeding objective for tomato variety FDS 14-2081 was to develop anelongated cherry tomato inbred variety with good taste, uniform size andgood combining ability to be used in the development of hybrid cultivarsfor the grape tomato category. The hybrid Picus was developed as a crossof FDS 14-2081 and FDS 14-2090, frequently with FDS 14-2081 used as thefemale. Tomato variety FDS 14-2081 was produced by crossing TR135-04.5(BC1F9) with 91FL2619B-13-2-1, F1. Tomato variety TR135-04.5 (BC1F9) wasproduced by crossing Santa Clara and Stevens (BC1F9).

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of TomatoVariety FDS 14-2081 CHARACTERISTIC FDS-14-2081 Seedling: anthocyanin inhypocotyl of 2-15 cm Present seedling (Montfavet H 63.4) Seedling: habitof 3-4 week old seedling Normal Mature plant: height 85 cm Mature plant:growth type Determinate (Campbell 1327, Prisca) Only determinate growthtype varieties: Plant: Few number of inflorescences on main stem(Campbell 1327) (side shoots to be removed) Mature plant: form NormalMature plant: size of canopy (compared to others of Medium similar type)Mature plant: habit Semi-erect Stem: anthocyanin coloration of upperthird Absent or very weak Stem: branching Intermediate (Westover) Stem:branching at cotyledon or first leafy node Present Stem: number of nodesbetween first inflorescence 7 to 10 Stem: number of nodes between early(1st to 2nd, 1 to 4 2nd to 3rd) inflorescences Stem: number of nodesbetween later developing 1 to 4 inflorescences Stem: pubescence onyounger stems Sparsely hairy (scattered long hairs) Leaf: type Tomato(mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: morphology 2 (matureleaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: margins of major leafletsShallowly toothed or scalloped (mature leaf beneath the 3rdinflorescence) Leaf: marginal rolling or wiltiness Slight (mature leafbeneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: onset of leaflet rolling Lateseason (mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf: surface ofmajor leaflets Smooth (mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf:pubescence Normal (mature leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Leaf:attitude Horizontal (in middle third of plant) (Aromata, Triton) Leaf:length 36.7 cm medium (Lorena) Leaf: width 30.2 cm medium Leaf: divisionof blade Pinnate (Mikado, Pilot, Red Jacket) Leaf: size of leafletsMedium (in middle of leaf) (Marmande VR, Royesta) Leaf: intensity ofgreen color Medium (Lucy) Leaf: glossiness Medium (as for 6) (MarmandeVR) Leaf: blistering Medium (as for 6) (Marmande VR) Leaf: size ofblisters Medium (as for 6) (Marmande VR) Leaf: attitude of petiole ofleaflet in relation to main Semi-erect axis (Blizzard, Marmande VR) (asfor 6) Inflorescence: type Mainly miltiparous (2nd and 3rd truss)(Marmande VR) Inflorescence: type Simple (make observations on the 3rdinflorescence) Inflorescence: average number of flowers in 5inflorescence (make observations on the 3rd inflorescence)Inflorescence: leafy or “running” inflorescence Absent (makeobservations on the 3rd inflorescence) Flower: calyx Normal (lobes awlshaped) Flower: calyx-lobes Shorter than corolla Flower: corolla colorYellow Flower: style pubescence Absent or very scarce (Campbell 1327)Flower: anthers All fused into tube Flower: fasciation Absent (1stflower of 2nd or 3rd inflorescence) (Monalbo, Moneymaker) Flower: colorYellow (Marmande VR) Fruit: typical shape in longitudinal section 7/8(3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: shape of transverse/crosssection 1 (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: shape of stem endIndented (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: shape of blossom endflat to pointed/nippled (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) (Cal J, EarlyMech, Peto Gro) flat and tapered but not nippled Fruit: size of blossomscar Very small (Cerise, Early Mech, Eruopeel, Heinz 1706, Peto Gro, RioGrande) Fruit: shape of pistil scar 1 (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster)Fruit: peduncle: abscission layer Present (pedicellate) (3rd fruit of2nd or 3rd cluster) (Montfavet H 63.5, Roma) Only for varieties withabscission layers: Peduncle: Averaged 1.3 cm length (from abscissionlayer to calyx) Fruit: ribbing at peduncle end Weak (Early Mech, Hypeel244, Melody, Peto Gro, Rio Grande) Fruit: depression at peduncle endWeak (Futuria, Melody) Fruit: size of stem/peduncle scar Small (EarlyMech, Peto Gro, Rio Grande, Roma) Fruit: point of detachment of fruit atharvest At pedicel joint (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: lengthof dedicel 13 mm (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fruit: length ofmature fruit 608 mm (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fill in the lengthof mature fruit Check Variety # (stem axis) FLORIDA 7655 753 mm CheckVariety # UC82 569 mm Fruit: diameter of fruit 535 mm (3rd fruit of 2ndor 3rd cluster) Fill in the diameter of fruit at widest point CheckVariety # FLORIDA 7655 484 mm Check Variety # UC82 498 mm Fruit: weightof mature fruit 103 grams (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Fill in theweight of mature fruit Check Variety # FLORIDA 7655 94.5 grams CheckVariety # UC82 75.2 grams Fruit: size Medium (Alphamech, Diego) Fruit:ratio length/diameter 1.14 Fruit: core Present Fruit: size of core incross section Small (in relation to total diameter) (Early Mech,Europeel, Heinz 1706, Peto Gro, Rio Grande, Rossol) Fruit: number oflocules 2 or 3 (Alphamech, Futuria) Fruit: surface Smooth Fruit: basecolor Light (mature-green stage) gray-green Fruit: pattern Uniform green(mature-green stage) Fruit: green shoulder Absent (before maturity)(Felicia, Rio Grande, Trust) Fruit: intensity of green color of fruitLight (as for 34) (Capello, Duranto, Trust) Fruit: color at maturity Red(full-ripe) (Ferline, Daniela, Montfavet H 63.5) Fruit: color of fleshat maturity Red/crimson (full-ripe) (Ferline, Saint-Pierre) Fruit: fleshcolor Uniform Fruit: locular gel color of table-ripe fruit Red Fruit:firmness Medium (Critina) Fruit: shelf life Medium (Durinta) Time offlowering Medium (Montfavet H 63.5, Prisca) Time of maturity Medium(Montfavet H 63.5) Fruit: ripening Uniform Fruit: ripening UniformityFruit: epidermis color Yellow Fruit: epidermis Normal Fruit: epidermistexture Average Fruit: thickness of pericarp Medium (Carmello, Europeel,Floradade, Heinz 1706, Montfavet H 63.5) Check Variety # FLORIDA 7655Medium Check Variety # UC82 Thick DISEASE AND PEST REACTION: VIRALDISEASES Tomato spotted wilt virus Highly resistant/present (Lisboa)Resistant few symptoms FUNGAL DISEASES Collar rot or stem canker Highlyresistant (Alternaria solani) Resistant few symptoms Fusarium wilt, Race1 Highly resistant/present (F. oxysporum f. lycopersici) (Motelle,Walter) Resistant few symptoms Gray leaf spot Highly resistant/present(Stemphylium spp.) (Motelle) Resistant few symptoms Verticillium wilt,Race 1 Highly resistant (V. albo-atrum) Resistant few symptoms CHEMISTRYAND COMPOSITION OF FULL- Check Variety Florida 7655 RIPE FRUITS CheckVariety UC82 PHENOLOGY Seeding to 50% flow (1 open on 50%) 31 days forApplication Variety 25 days for Florida 7655 (Check variety) 21 days forUC82 (Check variety) Fruiting season Long (Marglobe) Relative maturityin areas tested Medium late Adaptation: culture Field Adaptation:principle use(s): 2, 1 (if more than one category applies, list all inrank 1 = home garden order) 2 = fresh market Adaptation: machine harvestNot adapted Adaptation: regions to which adaptation has been 2, 3, 4, 12demonstrated 2 = Mid Atlantic (if more than one category applies, listall in rank 3 = Southeast order) 4 = Florida 12 = Other (specify):Midwest *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment.Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention

D. Breeding of Tomato Plants of the Invention

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for crossing atomato variety provided herein with itself or a second plant and theseeds and plants produced by such methods. These methods can be used forpropagation of a variety provided herein, or can be used to producehybrid tomato seeds and the plants grown therefrom. Such hybrid seedscan be produced by crossing the parent varieties of the variety.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing a plant of the invention followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novelvarieties, it may be desired to choose those plants that eitherthemselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics orthat exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination.Once initial crosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take placeto produce new varieties. For development of a uniform variety, oftenfive or more generations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform varieties of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedingvarieties without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner, true breeding varieties can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous variety.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers one or more heritable traits from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks those traits. The exact backcrossingprotocol will depend on the characteristic(s) or trait(s) being alteredto determine an appropriate testing protocol. When the term varietyPicus, variety FDS 14-2081 or variety FDS 14-2090 is used in the contextof the present invention, this also includes plants modified to includeat least a first desired heritable trait.

This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superiorinbred (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent),which carries the appropriate genetic information (e.g., an allele) atthe locus or loci relevant to the trait in question. The progeny of thiscross are then mated back to the recurrent parent followed by selectionin the resultant progeny (first backcross generation, or BC1) for thedesired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. Afterfive or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait,the progeny are heterozygous at loci controlling the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The parental tomato plant which contributes the desired characteristicor characteristics is termed the non-recurrent parent because it can beused one time in the backcross protocol and therefore need not recur.The parental tomato plant to which the locus or loci from thenon-recurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent asit is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,male sterility, herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal,or viral disease, insect resistance, restoration of male fertility,modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, and enhanced nutritionalquality. These comprise genes generally inherited through the nucleus.

Direct selection or screening may be applied where the single locus(e.g. allele) acts in a dominant fashion. For example, when selectingfor a dominant allele providing resistance to a bacterial disease, theprogeny of the initial cross can be inoculated with bacteria prior tothe backcrossing. The inoculation then eliminates those plants which donot have the resistance, and only those plants which have the resistanceallele are used in the subsequent backcross. This process is thenrepeated for all additional backcross generations.

Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristicbeing transferred is a dominant allele, recessive, co-dominant andquantitative alleles may also be transferred. In this instance, it maybe necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired locus has been successfully transferred. In the case where thenon-recurrent variety was not homozygous, the F1 progeny would not beequivalent. F1 plants having the desired genotype at the locus ofinterest could be phenotypically selected if the corresponding trait wasphenotypically detectable in a heterozygous or hemizygous state. In thecase where a recessive allele is to be transferred and the correspondingtrait is not phenotypically detectable in the heterozygous of hemizygousstate, the resultant progeny can be selfed, or crossed back to the donorto create a segregating population for selection purposes.Non-phenotypic tests may also be employed. Selected progeny from thesegregating population can then be crossed to the recurrent parent tomake the first backcross generation (BC1).

Molecular markers may also be used to aid in the identification of theplants containing both a desired trait and having recovered a highpercentage of the recurrent parent's genetic complement. Selection oftomato plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on the phenotypeof a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations. Forexample, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closelygenetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can beused to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring ofa particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny forcontinued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as markerassisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay thatis able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait ofinterest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Proceduresfor marker assisted selection applicable to the breeding of tomato arewell known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in thecase of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventionalassays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwisedisadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used inaccordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limitedto, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al.,1990), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR), Randomly Amplified PolymorphicDNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), SequenceCharacterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed PolymeraseChain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs)(EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al.,1998).

Tomato varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

Tomatoes are grown for use as rootstocks or scions. Typically, differenttypes of tomatoes are grafted to enhance disease resistance, which isusually conferred by the rootstock, while retaining the horticulturalqualities usually conferred by the scion. It is not uncommon forgrafting to occur between Solanum lycopersicum varieties and relatedSolanum species. Methods of grafting and vegetative propagation arewell-known in the art.

The varieties and varieties of the present invention are particularlywell suited for the development of new varieties or varieties based onthe elite nature of the genetic background of the variety. In selectinga second plant to cross with Picus, variety FDS 14-2081 or variety FDS14-2090 for the purpose of developing novel tomato varieties, it willtypically be preferred to choose those plants that either themselvesexhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or that exhibitthe desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples ofdesirable characteristics may include, but are not limited to herbicidetolerance, pathogen resistance (e.g., insect resistance, nematoderesistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, and viral disease), malefertility, improved harvest characteristics, enhanced nutritionalquality, increased antioxidant content, improved processingcharacteristics, high yield, improved characteristics related to thefruit flavor, texture, size, shape, durability, shelf life, and yield,improved vine habit, increased soluble solids content, uniform ripening,delayed or early ripening, reduced blossom end scar size, seedlingvigor, adaptability for soil conditions, and adaptability for climateconditions. Qualities that may be desirable in a processing tomato arenot necessarily those that would be desirable in a fresh market tomato;thus, the selection process for desirable traits for each specific enduse may be different. For example, certain features, such as solidscontent, and firm fruit to facilitate mechanical harvesting are moredesirable in the development of processing tomatoes; whereas, externalfeatures such as intensity and uniformity of fruit color, unblemishedfruit, and uniform fruit size are typically more important to thedevelopment of a fresh market product that will have greater retailer orconsumer appeal. Of course, certain traits, such as disease and pestresistance, high yield, and concentrated fruit set are of interest inany type of tomato variety or variety.

E. Plants of the Invention Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those that are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into the tomato variety of the inventionor may, alternatively, be used for the preparation of varietiescontaining transgenes that can be subsequently transferred to thevariety of interest by crossing. Methods for the transformation ofplants, including tomato, are well known to those of skill in the art.Techniques which may be employed for the genetic transformation oftomato include, but are not limited to, electroporation, microprojectilebombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, pollen-mediatedtransformation, and direct DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

To effect pollen-mediated transformation, one may apply pollenpretreated with DNA to the female reproduction parts of tomato plantsfor pollination. A pollen-mediated method for the transformation oftomato is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,399.

A particularly efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segmentsto plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particlesare coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target tomato cells. The screen disperses the particles sothat they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.It is believed that a screen intervening between the projectileapparatus and the cells to be bombarded reduces the size of projectilesaggregate and may contribute to a higher frequency of transformation byreducing the damage inflicted on the recipient cells by projectiles thatare too large.

Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModemAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant species where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for tomato plant geneexpression include, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus(CaMV) P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expressionin most plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly, partially duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, theenhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S) the nopaline synthase promoter (An etal., 1988), the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and thefigwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where thepromoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem, the cauliflowermosaic virus 19S promoter, a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter, acommelina yellow mottle virus promoter, and other plant DNA viruspromoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can beused for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, includingpromoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2) light (e.g.,pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter,Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid (Marcotte etal., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al., 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to the tomato varietiesof this invention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes fromanother species, or even genes or sequences which originate with or arepresent in the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cellsby genetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a tomato plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a tomato plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880275, hereinincorporated by reference it their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (e.g., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

F. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Alleles: Alternate forms of a single gene.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to transfergenetic information (e.g., an allele) from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor conferring malesterility or a chemical agent.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Locus: A designated location on a chromosome.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,a heritability of 1.

Polyploid: A cell or organism of containing three or more complete setsof chromosomes.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits whose phenotypes are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: A plant, often developedthrough the backcrossing technique, having essentially all of thedesired morphological and physiological characteristics of givenvariety, expect that at one locus it contains the genetic material(e.g., an allele) from a different variety. Genetic transformation mayalso be used to develop single locus converted plants.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tetraploid: A cell or organism having four sets of chromosomes.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a tomato plant by transformation.

Triploid: A cell or organism having three sets of chromosomes.

G. Deposit Information

A deposit of tomato varieties Picus, FDS 14-2081 and FDS 14-2090,disclosed above and recited in the claims, will be made with theAmerican Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd.,Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The dates of deposit are ______, ______, and______, respectively. The accession numbers for those deposited seedsare ATCC Accession No. ______, ATCC Accession No. ______, and ATCCAccession No. ______, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

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1. A tomato plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes oftomato variety FDS 14-2081 or tomato variety FDS 14-2090, a sample ofseed of said varieties having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number______, and ATCC Accession Number ______, respectively.
 2. A seedcomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of tomato variety FDS14-2081 or tomato variety FDS 14-2090, a sample of seed of saidvarieties having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number ______, andATCC Accession Number ______, respectively.
 3. The plant of claim 1,which is inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is hybrid.
 5. The plantof claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is variety Picus, a sample of seedof said variety having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number______.
 6. The plant of claim 3, wherein the inbred plant is variety FDS14-2081 or variety FDS 14-2090.
 7. A plant part of the plant of claim 1.8. The plant part of claim 7, further defined as a leaf, a ovule,pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 9. A tomato plant, or a part thereof, havingall the physiological and morphological characteristics of the tomatoplant of claim
 5. 10. A tomato plant, or a part thereof, having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the tomato plant ofclaim
 6. 11. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 1. 12. The tissue culture according to claim 12, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 13. A tomato plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim
 12. 14. A method of vegetativelypropagating the plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) collectingtissue capable of being propagated from a plant according to claim 1;(b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c)rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising growing plants from said rootedplantlets.
 16. A method of introducing a desired trait into a tomatovariety comprising: (a) crossing a plant of variety FDS 14-2081 or FDS14-2090, a sample of seed of said varieties having been deposited underATCC Accession Number ______, and ATCC Accession Number ______,respectively, with a second tomato plant that comprises a desired traitto produce F1 progeny; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises thedesired trait; (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant ofvariety FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090 to produce backcross progeny; (d)selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait and thephysiological and morphological characteristic of tomato variety FDS14-2081 or FDS 14-2090; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three ormore times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny that comprise the desired trait.
 17. A tomato plant produced bythe method of claim
 16. 18. A method of producing a plant comprising anadded desired trait, the method comprising introducing a transgeneconferring the desired trait into a plant of tomato variety Picus, FDS14-2081 or FDS 14-2090.
 19. A method of determining the genotype of theplant of claim 1 comprising obtaining a sample of nucleic acids fromsaid plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality ofpolymorphisms.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the stepof storing the results of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on acomputer readable medium.
 21. A computer readable medium produced by themethod of claim
 20. 22. A method for producing a seed of a varietyderived from variety Picus, FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090 comprising thesteps of: (a) crossing a tomato plant of variety Picus, FDS 14-2081 orFDS 14-2090 with a second tomato plant; and (b) allowing seed of avariety Picus, FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090-derived tomato plant to form.23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: (c)crossing a plant grown from said variety Picus, FDS 14-2081 or FDS14-2090-derived tomato seed with itself or a second tomato plant toyield additional variety Picus, FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090-derivedtomato seed; (d) growing said additional variety Picus, FDS 14-2081 orFDS 14-2090-derived tomato seed of step (c) to yield additional varietyPicus, FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090-derived tomato plants; and (e)repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generatefurther variety Picus, FDS 14-2081 or FDS 14-2090-derived tomato plants.24. The method of claim 22, wherein the second tomato plant is of aninbred tomato variety.
 25. The seed of claim 2, defined as produced bycrossing variety FDS 14-2081 with variety FDS 14-2090, a sample of seedof said varieties having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number______, and ATCC Accession Number ______, respectively.
 26. The seed ofclaim 25, wherein variety FDS 14-2081 is a male parent.
 27. The hybridseed of claim 25, wherein variety FDS 14-2081 a female parent.
 28. Aplant produced by growing the seed of claim
 25. 29. A plant part of theplant of claim
 28. 30. The plant part of claim 29, further defined as aleaf, a flower, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 31. A tissue culture ofcells of the plant of claim
 28. 32. The tissue culture of claim 31,wherein cells of the tissue culture are from a tissue selected from thegroup consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves,anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 33. A tomatoplant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 32, wherein theregenerated plant expresses all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of hybrid tomato variety Picus.
 34. The seed of claim25, wherein one or both of the plant of variety FDS 14-2081 or FDS14-2090 and the second plant further comprises a transgene.
 35. The seedof claim 25, wherein one or both of the plant of variety FDS 14-2081 orFDS 14-2090 and the second plant comprises a single locus conversion.36. A method of producing a tomato fruit comprising: (a) obtaining aplant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated tomaturity; and (b) collecting tomato from the plant.
 37. The method ofclaim 36, wherein the plant according to claim 1 is a plant of tomatovariety Picus.